Covid-19 binding aerosols

ABSTRACT

Covid-19 binding aerosols are provided. The Covid-19 binding aerosols include Fe 3 O 4  microparticles, at least one organoselenium compound, at least one essential oil, and incense. The Covid-19 binding aerosols may be formulated for use in any product that is capable of emitting aerosols, including but not limited to as air fresheners, as incense, or the like. The Fe 3 O 4  microparticles may have an average size of 5,000 nm-10,000 nm (between 5-10 μm). The Covid-19 binding aerosols are formulated as aerosol compositions having an average size of greater than 60 μm-100 μm to ensure effective binding to virions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/120,305, filed on Mar. 10, 2023, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The disclosure of the present patent application relates to SARS-CoV2 (“Covid-19”) binding aerosols.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, Covid-19 is understood to transmit primarily through exposure to infectious respirator droplets and aerosol particles. While vaccination has proved effective in reducing the risk of life-threatening outcomes form Covid-19 infection, it has largely proved ineffective at preventing infection and preventing the spread of Covid-19 throughout the global population.

Common mitigation techniques for preventing the spread of Covid-19 have included the use of physical distancing, masking, and improved ventilation of enclosed spaces. While each of these techniques reduces the risk of exposure to Covid-19, none of them have proven 100% effective.

Thus, Covid-19 binding aerosols solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY

The Covid-19 binding aerosols include Fe₃O₄ microparticles, at least one organoselenium compound, at least one essential oil, and incense. The Covid-19 binding aerosols may be formulated for use in any product that is capable of emitting aerosols, including but not limited to air fresheners, as incense, or the like.

These and other features of the present subject matter will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The Covid-19 binding aerosols include Fe₃O₄ microparticles, at least one organoselenium compound, at least one essential oil, and incense. The Covid-19 binding aerosols may be formulated for use in any product that is capable of emitting aerosols, including but not limited to air fresheners, as incense, or the like. The Fe₃O₄ microparticles may have an average size ranging from about 5,000 to about 10,000 nm (about 5-10 μm). The Covid-19 binding aerosols are formulated as aerosol compositions having an average size greater than respiratory droplets to ensure effective binding to virions and to, thereby, inactivate the virions. Respiratory droplets typically range in size from about 60 μm to about 100 m.

The Fe₃O₄ microparticles may be synthesized by reduction of a sol of Fe₃O₄ with one or more of the organoselenium compounds, followed by spray drying. Specifically, the spray drying may include spraying the Fe₃O₄ organoselenium compounds into a fine droplet by an air assisted jet under a controlled pressure of 0.1 MPa. The resulting droplets may undergo evaporation, decomposition, and eventually be frozen into nano structures under a controlled temperature of 350° C. under an inert atmosphere for about 2.5 hours.

The resulting Fe₃O₄/organoselenium nanoparticles may be mixed with at least one essential oil and incense to form the Covid-19 binding aerosols. The essential oil used may be an essential oil from any plant that has demonstrated an anti-viral activity. For example, the essential oil may be from Artemisia vulgaris L., Artemesia kermanensis Podlech, Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume, Laurus nobilis, Juniperus oxycedrus, Aloysia gratissima, Citrus bergamia Risso et Poiteau, or the like. In an embodiment, the Covid-19 binding aerosols may include an essential oil of Laurus nobilis, Juniperus oxycedrus, or a combination thereof. In an embodiment, the Covid-19 binding aerosols may include incense made from musk or sandalwood.

In an embodiment, the Covid-19 binding aerosols may comprise about 35% w/w Fe₃O₄, about 5% w/w organoselenium compounds, about 35% w/w/essential oils; and about 25% w/w incense. The organoselenium compounds may be mixed with the Fe₃O₄ to produce Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles on an organoselenium backbone, and these particles may then be mixed with the essential oil and incense to form a colloidal solution. The colloidal solution may then be sprayed into a fine droplet by an air assisted jet (under a controlled pressure of 0/1 MPa). The resulting Covid-19 binding aerosol composition may then be formulated for use with an air freshener, and incense burner, or the like.

The organoselenium compounds used may be any organoselenium compound according to either Formula 1 or Formula 2, provided below:

wherein Y is H, carboxyl, methoxycarbonyl, or ethoxycarbonyl, and Z is H, NO₂, F, CN, or OCH₃; or

wherein Y is H, carboxyl, methoxycarbonyl, or ethoxycarbonyl, and Z is NO₂, F, CN, or OCH₃.

The organoselenium compounds may be synthesized according to Reaction 1 or Reaction 2, provided below

wherein Y may be H, carboxyl, methoxycarbonyl, or ethoxycarbonyl, and Z may be H, NO₂, F, CN, or OCH₃; or

wherein Y may be H, carboxyl, methoxycarbonyl, or ethoxycarbonyl, and Z may be NO₂, F, CN, or OCH₃.

In an embodiment, the Covid-19 binding aerosols may be dispensed by aerosol spray dispensers. The aerosol spray dispensers may use eco-friendly compressed gases, e.g., oxygen and nitrogen, to dispense the Covid-19 binding aerosols while avoiding any possible environmental pollution.

The present teachings may be better understood in view of the following examples.

Example 1 Synthesis of dimethyl 5,5′-diselanediylbis(2-(3-(4-nitrophenyl)thioureido)benzoate)

Methyl 2-amino-5-selenocyanatobenzoateb was obtained from the selenocyanates of methyl 12-aminobenzoate via reaction with SeO₂ and malononitrile in DMSO at room temperature, as provided in the reaction scheme (Reaction 3), provided below. Hydrolysis of the selenocyanate under basic conditions produced dimenthyl 5,5′-diselanediylbis(2-aminobenzoate). The reactions of equimolar amounts of isothicyanato-4-nitrobenzene and diselenide 3 in dichloromethane and at room temperature resulted in the synthesis of dimethyl 5,5′-diselanediylbis(2-(3-(4-nitrophenyl)thioureido)benzoate) (Reaction 3).

It is to be understood that the Covid-19 binding aerosols are not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the generic language of the following claims enabled by the embodiments described herein, or otherwise shown in the drawings or described above in terms sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the claimed subject matter. 

We claim:
 1. A method of making an aerosol composition, comprising: mixing at least one organoselenium compound with Fe3O4 to produce a first mixture including Fe3O4 microparticles on an organoselenium backbone; adding at least one essential oil and at least one incense to the first mixture to produce a second mixture; and spray drying the second mixture to produce the aerosol composition.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the Fe3O4 microparticles have an average particle size ranging from about 5 μm to about 10 μm.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one organoselenium compound comprises a compound according to the formula:

wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of H, carboxyl, methoxycarbonyl, and ethoxycarbonyl, and Z is selected from the group consisting of H, NO2, F, CN, and OCH3.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one organoselenium compound comprises a compound according to the formula:

wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of H, carboxyl, methoxycarbonyl, and ethoxycarbonyl, and Z is selected from the group consisting of NO2, F, CN, and OCH3.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one essential oil comprises an essential oil selected from the group consisting of Artemisia vulgaris L., Artemesia kermanensis Podlech, Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume, Laurus nobilis, Aloysia gratissima, Juniperus oxycedrus, and Citrus bergamia Risso et Poiteau.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one incense comprises an incense selected from the group consisting of musk and sandalwood.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the aerosol composition comprises about 35% w/w Fe3O4, about 5% w/w organoselenium compounds, about 35% w/w/essential oils; and about 25% w/w incense. 